Our Garden Friend

He doesn't look it, but he is over 50 years old!  I'm talking about our little garden friend who contentedly sits in the corner of our garden.  He has spent most of his life outside, and used to know the luxury of sitting in Syd's grandmother's livingroom during the Northern winters.  The other week, when Mom and I were sitting in the front yard, Mom exclaimed how she loved looking over at this little guy and seeing his happy face smiling back at her.  It prompted me to give a little of his background.

Back in the 1960s Syd's family traveled to Quincy, Michigan, to visit family.  While there, Grammy saw this little guy, unpainted, at a business that catered to people who like to collect such cement garden ornaments.  She took to his smile, his sunny disposition, perhaps, and expressed the desire to have him sitting amongst her flowers.  Grandpa said that they just did not have room to take him back home with them.  After they returned to their family's house, Grandpa and his sons took off for "a ride".  They purchased the little statue and pushed him wayyyy at the front of the car's trunk, right under the center of the back seat.  Little did Grammy know, she sat on him all those miles home!  When they returned from their trip she was surprised with their little secret and happily gave him a shiny paint job and he took up residence with them for over 30 years.  There was only one brief separation, which I will describe next:

One morning, Grammy discovered that every one of her little garden ornaments were missing.  Assuming that they did not all up and defect, they concluded that it was the act of thieves!  It was reported to the local police and Grammy was assured that everyone's eyes would be on the lookout for misplaced gnomes and elves.  One evening, Syd's aunt, Olie, was watching the news.  There had been a drug bust in the hometown.  The news cameras were showing the inside of a livingroom.  As the camera panned across the floor, Olie suddenly spotted the little statue; his face wreathed in smiles, despite his desperate situation. She called the police station then made a call to Grammy.  Within a day or so all of Gram's ornaments were returned to their home.  Our little friend spent most of Grammy's remaining years on the porch or in the livingroom.  When Syd and I were newly married, I gave him a much-needed paint job, which he is still wearing today!

Syd and I inherited our little friend when his aunt moved to Florida.  Up until right now I have not even thought to give him a name, as he's always been called "the little elf" or "our little friend".  When I painted him, all those years ago, I thought about covering his pointed ears with red paint, to look like his hat, but it just would not work, as they stick out so.  I decided to stop worrying about it and just let him keep his funny ears. I know a lot of PEOPLE who have large or even pointed ears, so we don't worry about it anymore.

Can anyone think of a name for this little guy?  This is my 83rd post - not that this is a great milestone, but, in honor of our 83rd post, we're asking for suggestions of names.  The winner will get something special- I don't know what yet, but something.  THERE's great incentive to come up with a name! huh?

I hope you all have a nice day....and keep smiling!